Postdoctoral Research Associate

RFCSR; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop computer

Shared office space

Research fund $4,000/year

Benefits

Job summary

Princeton University’s PIIRS invites applications for the PIIRS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for the 2027-28 academic year. Appointments are for one year as Postdoctoral Research Associate, starting September 1, 2027, with possible renewal.

Fellows reside in the Princeton area, participate in on-campus activities four days per week, and engage with faculty seminars while developing publishable research, supported by a $4,000 annual research fund, a laptop, and shared office space.

Qualifications

• Recent PhD in the Social Sciences by Sept 1, 2027 or completion letter by that date.
• Applicants generally cannot have more than two years of postdoctoral experience by Sept 1, 2027.
• Selection based on scholarly record, proposed research, and cross-department collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with multidisciplinary audiences.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research and contribute to PIIRS and Princeton seminars.
• Publish work and present at internal and external venues.
• Engage with interdisciplinary research groups and colleagues.
• Collaborate across social science disciplines and area studies.

Skills

Social science scholarship

Theoretical debates

Interdisciplinary communication

Regional knowledge

Collaborative research

Education

PhD in Social Sciences

Job description

The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) at Princeton University invites applications for the PIIRS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for the 2027-28 academic year. PIIRS is dedicated to advancing innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship addressing global challenges and will award up to four postdoctoral fellowships for the 2027-28 cohort.

Appointments will be made at the rank of Postdoctoral Research Associate for a one-year (12-month) duration, beginning September 1, 2027, with the possibility of renewal pending satisfactory performance and continued funding. Fellows are expected to be in residence at Princeton or in the local vicinity for the entire academic year, maintaining an on-campus presence at least four days per week (or demonstrating the ability to be on campus daily on short notice) to fulfill in-person participation duties.

Leveraging Princeton’s scholarly resources, fellows will focus on research, expanding their intellectual horizons, and preparing work for publication. Key program elements and opportunities include:

Biweekly meetings with the faculty director to share ongoing work.

Monthly interdisciplinary meetings with faculty fellows from various social science disciplines to present research and engage in collaborative learning.

Encouraged engagement with colleagues and participation in departmental seminars.

Financial support to host a small, pre-publication book workshop.

Provision of shared office space and a laptop computer.

Positions are subject to Princeton University’s background check policy. (Note: The position is not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing; other visa sponsorships not requiring consular processing may be available as appropriate).

Eligibility Criteria:

Recent PhD in the Social Sciences. Candidates must have completed all requirements for the PhD degree by the start date of the fellowship (September 1, 2027) or provide a letter signed by their dissertation advisor confirming completion by that date.

Applicants generally cannot have more than two years of postdoctoral experience prior to September 1, 2027.

Selection is based on the strength of the candidate’s scholarly record, the promise of proposed research, and the ability to contribute to the intellectual community across PIIRS and Princeton academic departments.

Required Expertise / Skills:

Exceptional scholarship in the Social Sciences congruent with PIIRS’s intellectual focus.

Demonstrated ability to advance theoretical debates within the applicant’s primary disciplinary field.

Proven capability to creatively engage and communicate with a multidisciplinary audience.

Deep substantive regional knowledge of specific places.

High potential for collaborative engagement with interdisciplinary research groups.

Salary Details: Competitive salary and benefits, plus a research fund of $4,000 per year, shared office space, a laptop computer, and funding for a pre-publication book workshop.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST (Advertised on August 4, 2026)